Flapped heel shoe

ABSTRACT

Described herein is a plurality of athletic shoes including a sole portion comprising a toe end and a heel end having a medial side edge extending from a midline of the heel end to a midline of the toe end and a lateral side edge extending from a midline of the heel end to the midline of the toe end; an upper portion comprising a medial portion having a lower edge attached to the medial side edge of the sole portion and extending from the midline of the toe end to around the medial side; the medial portion comprising a heel end portion for contacting with at least a portion of a wearer&#39;s heel and having a forefoot portion for contacting with at least a portion of the wearer&#39;s forefoot; and a lateral portion having a lower edge securely attached to the lateral side edge of the sole portion and extending from the midline of the toe end along the lateral side to a point before the midline of the heel end; the lateral portion comprising a heel end portion for contacting with at least a portion of the wearer&#39;s heel and having a forefoot portion for contacting with at least a portion of the wearer&#39;s forefoot; wherein the lateral portion is removably attached to the medial portion; and wherein the upper portion is adapted for entry of a foot from a rear of the shoe.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is related to shoes having rear entries andmethods of using the same.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many people need shoes that are easy to put on and wear. As such, shoeshaving a rear entry would be useful for such individuals.

SUMMARY OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a plurality of athletic shoes. The plurality of athletic shoesincludes a sole portion and an upper portion. The sole portion includesa toe end and a heel end having a medial side edge extending from amidline of the toe end to a midline of the heel end on a medial side ofthe shoe and a lateral side edge extending from the midline of the toeend to the midline of the heel end on a lateral side of the shoe. Theupper portion comprises a medial portion having a lower edge securelyattached to the sole portion and extending from the midline of the toeend to the midline of the heel end to a portion of the lateral side; themedial portion comprising a heel end portion for contacting with atleast a portion of a wearer's heel and having a forefoot portion forcontacting with at least a portion of a wearer's forefoot. The lateralportion preferably has a lower edge securely attached to the soleportion and extending from the midline of the toe end along the lateralside to a point before the midline of the heel end; the lateral portioncomprising a heel end portion for contacting with at least a portion ofthe wearer's heel and having a forefoot portion for contacting with atleast a portion of the wearer's forefoot. Preferably, the lateralportion is removeably attached to the medial portion; and wherein theupper portion is adapted for entry of a foot from the rear of the shoe.Preferably, the upper portion is adapted for entry of a foot on alateral side of the rear of the shoe. In one aspect of the presentinvention, the medial portion comprises a pull strap and the lateralportion comprises a flap, the pull strap and the flap being removeablyattached to each other. Preferably, the pull strap overlaps the flap atthe rear of the shoe. Preferably, the plurality of athletic shoes is apair of athletic shoes. In one aspect of the present invention, theupper portion is not substantially or completely openable to an outside.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a method. The method includes providing a plurality of athleticshoes as described herein. In one aspect of the present invention, themethod further comprises the steps of detaching the pull strap and theflap; inserting a wearer's foot into the shoe through the rear of theshoe; and attaching the pull strap and the flap.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a plurality of athletic shoes. The plurality of athletic shoescomprise a sole portion; an upper portion attached to the sole portion;wherein the upper portion is adapted for receiving a foot at a rear ofthe shoe; and a plurality of faux shoe laces attached to the upperportion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may be more readily understood by referring to theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the shoe of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of FIG. 1 showing the lateral side ofthe shoe;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the shoe of FIG. 1 showing themedial side of the shoe; and

FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view of the shoe of FIG. 1.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of thedrawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

It will be appreciated that terms such as “front,” “back,” “top,”“bottom,” “left,” “right,” “above,” and “side” used herein are merelyfor ease of description and refer to the orientation of the componentsas shown in the figures. It should be understood that any orientation ofthe components described herein is within the scope of the presentinvention.

As shown in FIGS. 1-4, a preferred embodiment of an athletic shoe 10 (asused herein, “athletic shoe” may be interchangeable with “shoe”) isshown and described. As used herein, “shoe” may refer to a shoe that isadapted to be worn on the right or left foot of an individual. As usedherein, “plurality” means at least one. Preferably, the shoe 10 includesa sole portion 12, and an upper portion 14 attached to the sole portion12. Preferably, the upper portion 14 is adapted for entry of a foot at arear of the shoe 10.

In a preferred embodiment, the shoe 10 includes a medial side and alateral side. Preferably, the medial side refers to the side that facesthe individual when the shoe is worn, and the lateral side refers to theside that does not face the individual when the shoe is worn.

In a preferred embodiment, shoe 10 has a midline 20. As used herein,“midline” refers to the midline of the shoe 10. Preferably, the“midline” is the center of mass of the shoe 10. It follows that the“midline” of the upper portion 14 and the “midline” of the sole portion12 are preferably in the same plane. Reference to “midline” of a part ofthe shoe 10, i.e., reference to “a midline of the toe end” preferablyrefers to the midline of the shoe at that part of the shoe. In otherembodiments, the midline of various parts of the shoe may be different.In yet other embodiments, the “midline” may refer to a middle plane ofthe shoe, from a toe end of the shoe to the heel end of the shoe,without taking into consideration its center of mass.

In a preferred embodiment, and as shown in FIGS. 1-4, the sole portion12 includes a toe end 12 a and a heel end 12 b, a medial side edge 13Mextending from, or at, about the midline 20 at the toe end 12 a to at,or about, the midline 20 at the heel end 12 b on the medial side.Preferably, the sole portion 12 includes a lateral side edge 13Lextending from, or at, about a midline of the toe end 12 a to at, orabout, a midline of the heel end 12 b on the lateral side. Preferably,the sole portion 12 is adapted for athletic use and includes traction(not shown) on a bottom of the shoe 10 and sufficient padding to be wornfor such use. In other embodiments, the sole portion 12 may not havetraction and/or may be adapted for other uses.

In a preferred embodiment, the upper portion 14 of the shoe 10 issecurely attached to the sole portion 12 of the shoe 10. Preferably, theupper portion 14 includes a medial portion 16 and a lateral portion 18.Preferably, each of the medial portion 16 and the lateral portion 18 issecurely attached to at least a portion of the sole portion 12.Preferably, the medial portion 16 faces the middle of the body of theindividual when the shoe 12 is worn, and the lateral portion faces theoutside of the body when worn, irrespective of whether the shoe isadapted to be worn on a left foot or a right foot. As used herein,reference to “medial portion” and/or “lateral portion” may include a topof the shoe, i.e., the portion having the shoe laces and/or faux shoelaces, or may not include the top portion of the shoe 10.

In a preferred embodiment, and as shown in FIGS. 1-4, the medial portion16 includes a lower edge 16 a that is securely attached to the medialside edge 13M of the sole portion 12. Preferably, the lower edge 16 a ofthe medial portion 16 securely attaches to, and extends from, a midline20 a of the toe end 12 a of sole portion 12, to a midline 20 b of theheel end 12 b of sole portion 12, and past the midline 20 b of the heelend 12 b to the lateral side of the shoe 10. As used herein, “extendsfrom/to” means “securely attached from/to” and not removably attached.In this manner, the lower edge 16 a of the medial portion 16 ispreferably securely attached to medial side edge 13M of the sole portion12 and a portion of the lateral side edge 13L of the sole portion 12.Preferably, this configuration of the lower edge 16 a of the medialportion 16 being securely attached to at least a portion of the lateralside edge 13L of the shoe 10 increases the strength of the shoe,allowing it to be adapted for athletic use. For example, thisconfiguration allows for better strength along the medial side of thefoot allowing for quick movements and better stability. In otherembodiments, the lower edge 16 a of the medial portion 16 does notextend past the midline 20 b of the heel end 12 b, and, as such, is notsecurely attached to a portion of the lateral side edge 13L. Forexample, the lower edge 16 a of the medial portion 16 may extend to themidline 20 b of the heel end 12 b, but not extend past it to the lateralside.

In a preferred embodiment, and as shown in FIGS. 1-4, the lateralportion 18 has a lower edge 18 a that is securely attached to thelateral side edge 13L and extends on the lateral side from the midline20 a of the toe end 12 a to a point before the midline 20 b of the heelend 12 b. Preferably, the lower edge 18 a of the lateral portion 18 isnot securely attached to the lateral side edge 13L past the midline 20 bof the heel end 12 b. In other embodiments, the lower edge 18 a of thelateral portion 18 may be securely attached to, and may extend to, themidline 20 b of the heel end 12 b and/or past the midline 20 b of theheel end 12 b to the medial side.

In a preferred embodiment, and as shown in FIG. 1, the medial portion 16overlaps the lateral portion 18 on an outside of the shoe 10. Likewise,the lateral portion 18 overlaps the medial portion 16 on an inside ofthe shoe 10. Preferably, each of the medial portion 16 and lateralportion 18 converge and are securely attached at the same orsubstantially similar location or point on the sole portion 12 on thelateral side of the shoe 10. This location or point is best shown inFIG. 1, and identified by the numerical identifier “50.” Preferably,point 50 is at the rear of the shoe 10, offset from midline 20 b of theheel end 12 b of the shoe 10. Preferably, at point 50, the medialportion 16 is securely attached to the sole portion 12 of the shoe 10,and the lateral portion 18 is securely attached to the medial portion 16of the shoe 10. This configuration allows for increased strength andresilience of the shoe. In other embodiments, at the point or locationwhere the medial portion 16 and the lateral portion 18 converge, theconfiguration may be reversed, and/or any other configuration may beused. For example, the medial portion 16 and/or lateral portion 18 maybe attached to any other part of shoe at the point or location.Additionally, and as best shown in FIG. 1, the medial portion 16 and thelateral portion 18 at least partially overlap in the attached, as wellas detached position. In other embodiments, the lateral edge 18 a of thelateral portion 18 overlaps the medial portion 16 at the rear of theshoe 10, extends past the midline 20 b at the toe end 12 b, and securelyattaches to a point on the medial side edge 13M of the shoe 10. In otherembodiments, the medial portion and/or the lateral portion may notconverge at any point or location at the rear of the shoe.

In a preferred embodiment, the shoe 10 is an athletic shoe. Preferably,the shoe 10 is adapted for entry of a foot at the rear of the shoe 10.Preferably, the shoe 10 has faux shoe laces 32. As used herein, “fauxshoe laces” means shoe laces that do not need to be untied to insert thefoot, and do not need to be tied to secure the foot in the shoe. In thisregard, the foot enters from the rear, and shoe laces do not need to beuntied to insert the foot in the shoe 10. Nor do shoe laces need to betied to tighten the shoe once the foot is inserted in the shoe 10.Preferably, the shoe 10 is designed for a child's foot, and the childwill not trip over his or her shoe laces, because the shoe laces do notneed to be tied or untied to insert the foot or untied to remove thefoot from the shoe. In this regard, the foot is simply inserted from therear of the shoe and removed from the rear of the shoe. In otherembodiments, the shoe 10 may not comprise faux shoe laces, i.e., maycomprise real shoe laces and/or may not comprise any shoe laces. In yetother embodiments, the shoe 10 may be designed for an adult's foot.

In a preferred embodiment, the medial portion 16 and the lateral portion18 are removably attached at the rear of the shoe 10 via a hook and loopfastener, such as VELCRO®. Preferably, and as shown in FIG. 1, themedial portion 16 comprises a pull strap 40 having loops on its innersurface, and the lateral portion 18 comprises flap 42 having hooks onits outer surface. In other embodiments, the medial portion 16 has hookson its inner surface, and lateral portion 18 has loops on its outersurface 18 a. In yet other embodiments, the medial and lateral portionsmay be attached by any other means, such as snaps, buttons, laces, andthe like. In yet other embodiments, medial portion 16 may not comprisepull strap and/or lateral portion 18 may not comprise flap. In yet otherembodiments, medial portion 16 may comprise flap, and lateral portionmay comprise pull strap.

In a preferred embodiment, detaching the pull strap 40 and flap 42 formsan opening 60 for receiving a foot from the rear of the shoe 10. In apreferred embodiment, an edge 64, as best shown in FIG. 4, of lateralportion 18 is at an angle 62 relative to the sole portion 12 while in anattached and/or detached position.

In a preferred embodiment, the angle 62 of the edge 64 relative to thesole portion 12 is less than about 180 degrees. In a more preferredembodiment, the angle 62 of the edge 64 relative to the sole portion 12is less than about 90 degrees. In highly preferred embodiment, the angle62 of the edge 64 relative to the sole portion 12 is less than about 60degrees. In this regard, there is a space 66 that is defined by the edge64 and the sole portion 12 when the lateral portion 18 is in theattached or substantially attached position. The presence of the space66 allows for more room for the heel of the foot, as the heel of thefoot can rest up against an inside of the shoe, i.e., can rest upagainst the medial portion. In other embodiments, the edge 64 and thesole portion 12 i.e., the lateral portion 18 and the sole portion 12,may be at any angle relative to each other.

While certain embodiments of the invention have been described, theseembodiments have been presented by way of example only and are notintended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel methodsand elements described herein may be embodied in a variety of otherforms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in theform of the methods and systems described herein may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims andtheir equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications aswould fall within the scope and spirit of the inventions.

1. A plurality of athletic shoes comprising; (a) a sole portioncomprising a toe end and a heel end having a medial side edge extendingfrom a midline of the toe end to a midline of the heel end on a medialside of the shoe and a lateral side edge extending from the midline ofthe toe end to the midline of the heel end on a lateral side of theshoe; (b) an upper portion comprising: (a) a medial portion having alower edge securely attached to the sole portion and extending from themidline of the toe end to the midline of the heel end on the medialside, and past the midline of the heel end to a portion of the lateralside; the medial portion comprising a heel end portion for contactingwith at least a portion of a wearer's heel and having a forefoot portionfor contacting with at least a portion of the wearer's forefoot; and (b)a lateral portion having a lower edge securely attached to the soleportion and extending from the midline of toe end along the lateral sideto a point before the midline of the heel end; the lateral portioncomprising a heel end portion for contacting with at least a portion ofthe wearer's heel and having a forefoot portion for contacting with atleast a portion of the wearer's forefoot; wherein the lateral portion isremovably attached to the medial portion; and wherein the upper portionis adapted for entry of a foot from a rear of the shoe.
 2. The pluralityof athletic shoes of claim 1, wherein the upper portion is adapted forentry of a foot on a lateral side of the rear of the shoe.
 3. Theplurality of athletic shoes of claim 1, wherein the medial portioncomprises a pull strap and the lateral portion comprises a flap, thepull strap and the flap being removably attached to each other.
 4. Theplurality of athletic shoes of claim 3, further comprising faux shoelaces.
 5. The plurality of athletic shoes of claim 4, wherein the pullstrap overlaps the flap at the rear of the shoe.
 6. The plurality ofathletic shoes of claim 5, wherein the plurality of athletic shoes is apair of athletic shoes.
 7. The plurality of athletic shoe of claim 3,wherein at least partially detaching the pull strap and the flap definesan opening for receiving the foot.
 8. The plurality of athletic shoes ofclaim 3, wherein the flap and the pull strap are removably attached viaa hook and loop fastener.
 9. The plurality of athletic shoes of claim 1,wherein the upper portion is not substantially or completely openable toan outside.
 9. A method comprising: (a) providing the plurality ofathletic shoes of claim
 3. 10. The method of claim 9, further comprisingthe steps of detaching the pull strap and the flap; inserting a wearer'sfoot into the shoe through the rear of the shoe; and attaching the pullstrap and the flap.
 11. A plurality of athletic shoes comprising: (a) asole portion; (b) an upper portion attached to the sole portion, whereinthe upper portion is adapted for receiving a foot at a rear of the shoe;and (c) a plurality of faux shoe laces attached to the upper portion.12. The plurality of athletic shoes of claim 11, wherein the upperportion comprises a medial portion and a lateral portion, wherein themedial portion and the lateral portion are removeably attached.